Californians just dreamin’ of butterflies this year

Don’t miss Jane Kay’s unsettling story today in the San Francisco Chronicle reporting that butterflies have vanished from many of their usual haunts this spring:

Wild fluctuations in California’s winter and spring weather have hurt fragile butterfly populations, causing numbers to fall to the lowest in more than three decades and increasing the concerns of scientists about long-term declines linked to climate change and habitat loss.

The story of one butterfly in particular is attention-grabbing. The American painted lady, a gorgeous orange-and-black butterfly, appeared by the millions last year. Now, there is nary a one. It’s possible they could soon turn up in the Pacific Northwest, though, experts told Kay.